Ether and alkyl phospholipid compounds for treating cancer and imaging and detection of cancer stem cells

ABSTRACT

Methods and compositions utilizing ether and alkyl phospholipid ether analog compounds for treating cancer and imaging, monitoring, and detecting cancer stem cells in humans.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Stem cells, which possess the unique ability to undergo self-renewal and differentiation into tissue-specific cells, give rise to all tissues in the body. Unlike embryonic stem cells which can differentiate into many different cell types, tissue specific stem cells can only form cells unique to one tissue. Recent advances in stem cell molecular biology techniques have enabled researchers to examine the concept that a malignant tumor can be formed and maintained due to the presence of a small number of cancer-specific stem cells.

Stem cells can renew themselves. This self-renewal process of all stem cells, including tumor stem cells, is known to be very tightly regulated. Many reports in the past several years have confirmed that small populations of cancer stem cells have been found in a variety of cancers including glioma, breast, pancreas, ovarian, hepatocellular carcinoma, and melanoma, to name a few. Furthermore, it has also been widely reported that current cancer chemotherapeutic agents which can successfully kill differentiated tumor cells are actually ineffective against the small population of cancer stem cells which may be a contributing factor to the regeneration of cancer cells after chemotherapy. These agents act by inhibiting a wide variety of known cell signaling, growth regulation, and cell death mechanisms within these normally differentiated cancer cells. Several studies have suggested that long-term ineffectiveness of chemotherapy agents against cancer stem cells may be due to their lack of penetration into these cells. Although early in development, this hypothesis may at least partially explain the regeneration of tumor cells after chemotherapy.

Because of its nature, radiation may afford a higher degree of efficacy in killing cancer stem cells. Although certain tumors can be effectively treated with external beam radiation, in many cases, the tumors reappear at a later time. In addition to chemo-resistance of cancer stem cells, it is now known that glioma stem cells are also 30% more radio-resistant than regular glioma cells. This finding is based on radiation applied via external beam. Systemically administered radiotherapeutics that can target normally differentiated cancer cells may still hold a significant advantage over chemotherapeutics due to their collateral killing ability, wherein radiation emanating from surrounding tumor cells has the ability to kill a lone stem cell via a “cross-fire” effect (The “cross-fire” effect is a theory that the radioactive compounds can kill both the cancer cells to which they attach and the adjacent tumor cells).

In addition, systemically administered radiotherapy gives a prolonged and continuous radiation exposure which appears to be more effective in tumor cell killing than is intermittent external radiation therapy. It is even more probable that if a systemically administered radiotherapeutic agent could actually target the cancer stem cells and penetrate their membrane, the radiotherapeutic agent would have a better chance of killing the cancer stem cell and preventing its eventual regrowth.

Accordingly, there is a need for radiotherapeutic agents that can treat cancer either by themselves or in combination with external beam radiotherapy. In addition, there is a need for new methods of identifying stem cells, both in vitro and in vivo.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, this invention relates to a method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

-   -   where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and         30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂,         N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl         substituent,

or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent,

wherein said therapeutically effective amount of said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is sufficient to penetrate into said cancer stem cells and wherein a population of said cancer stem cells is reduced.

The therapeutically effective amount that is sufficient to penetrate into said cancer stem cells is preferably between 0.21-21 mg (equivalent to a 7-700 mCi, total mass dose range) and between 0.03-0.21 mg/kg (equivalent to 1-7 mCi/kg, by weight dose range).

For a therapy in humans, a preferred isotope of iodine is ¹³¹I, although other radioactive isotopes, including ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, and ¹²⁵I can also be used.

In one embodiment of the invention, the alkyl phospholipid compound labeled with a nonradioactive (“cold”) isotope of iodine (e.g., ¹²⁷I) can be utilized to treat cancer stem cells.

In the most preferred embodiment, the radiolabeled compound is CLR1404 (18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine) radiolabeled with ¹³¹I.

In addition, ether and alkyl phospholipid compounds having more than one radioactive iodine may be used for the purposes of the present invention. Some representative structures are as follows:

The part of the molecule after the vertical wavy line is the same as in the molecules with one Iodine attached to the phenyl ring.

In one embodiment, the cancer is solid cancer.

In one embodiment, the solid cancers are selected from the group consisting of lung cancer, breast cancer, glioma, squamous cell carcinoma, prostate cancer, melanoma, renal cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, sarcoma, and stomach cancer.

In another embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compounds as described in the application formulated for use in the treatment of cancer wherein the radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compounds penetrate cancer stem cells.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to method of imaging a population of cancer stem cells in vivo comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

-   -   where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and         30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂,         N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl         substituent,

or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent,

wherein said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound penetrates said cancer stem cells.

For imaging in humans, a preferred isotope of iodine is ¹²⁴I, although other radioactive isotopes, including ¹²³I and ¹³¹I can be used, too.

In one preferred embodiment, the radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is CLR1404 (18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine) radiolabeled with ¹²⁴I.

In other embodiments of the invention, fluorescent analogs of PLE compounds may be used in the claimed imaging methods. For example, the invention specifically contemplates the use of CLR1501 compound, which has the following structure:

The application specifically incorporates by reference all fluorescent PLE analogs described in the pending patent application Ser. Nos. 12/463,970; 12/463,978; 12/463,983; 12/463,990; and 12/463,998.

The imaging can be performed through a hybrid scanning, utilizing a functional imaging modality, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) in combination with computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, and combinations thereof.

In other embodiments, the invention provides methods of ex vivo or in vitro labeling cancer stem cells comprising administering to cells suspected of comprising cancer stem cells an effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I or II. In other embodiments of the invention, the above-described fluorescent analogs of phospholipid compounds may be used for the labeling.

In other embodiments, the described compounds can be used for identifying cancer stem cells in vivo, by administering the compounds to an animal and then identifying and/or quantifying stem cells of any type in any organ or tissue.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

We have developed several series of tumor-selective radiolabeled ether and alkyl phospholipid compounds for imaging, characterization, and treatment of malignant tumors. Thus far, the lead compound, CLR1404, has shown striking uptake and prolonged selective retention properties in over fifty solid xenograft and spontaneous human tumor and rodent tumor models. Unlike ¹⁸F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG), the current gold standard for oncologic imaging, CLR1404 does not localize in benign or premalignant lesions or in inflammatory lesions. Cellular signaling and regulation of phospholipids, including phospholipase-D and its isoforms, as well as Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue Deleted from Chromosome-10 (PTEN) and phosphatidylinositol phosphate (PIPn) pathways, are known to be directly involved in upstream regulation of many key oncogenic pathways. We now have strong evidence that the uptake and retention of our PLE analogs is due at least in part to these upstream regulation and signaling cancer cell pathways. Other non-radioactive members of the “anti-tumor alkyl-phospholipid” class of molecules have been shown to induce tumor cell apoptosis through inhibition of AKT-dependent downstream signaling; the very mechanism which is thought to be important in enhancing malignant stem cell survival in response to either chemotherapy or radiation.

This invention relates to a discovery that the unique properties of ether and alkyl phospholipid compounds, especially CLR1404, including their prolonged selective retention in malignant cells, and their ability to inhibit AKT-dependent survival mechanisms, can be utilized to treat and/or detect cancer stem cells.

For purposes of the present invention, the terms “PLE compounds” and “PLE analogs” are interchangeable and refer to ether and alkyl phospholipid compounds as described in the invention.

For purposes of the present invention, the term “treating” refers to reversing, alleviating, inhibiting, or slowing the progress of the disease, disorder, or condition to which such term applies, or one or more symptoms of such disease, disorder, or condition.

The term “cancer stem cell” refers to a cell with tumor-initiating and tumor-sustaining capacity.

The term “therapeutically effective amount” refers to a sufficient amount of the compound to reduce the number of cancer stem cells. It will be understood, however, that the total daily usage of the compounds and compositions of the present invention will be decided by the attending physician within the scope of sound medical judgment. The specific therapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient will depend upon a variety of factors including the specific cancer being treated, the stage of the cancer, activity of the specific compound employed; the specific composition employed; the age, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the time of administration, route of administration, and rate of excretion of the specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugs used in combination or coincidental with the specific compound employed; and like factors well known in the medical arts.

The term “crystalline forms” and related terms herein refers to the various crystalline modifications of a given substance, including, but not limited to, polymorphs, solvates, hydrates, co-crystals and other molecular complexes, as well as salts, solvates of salts, hydrates of salts, other molecular complexes of salts, and polymorphs thereof.

The compounds of the invention encompass any deuterated versions of the compounds.

The compounds of the invention may exist in different isomeric (e.g. enantiomers and distereoisomers) and enol forms. The invention contemplates all such isomers, both in pure form and in admixture, including racemic mixtures.

The compounds of the invention encompass pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the phosphocholine portion of the compounds. The compounds of the invention are also preferably inner salts (zwitterions) themselves.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” is meant to include salts of active compounds which are prepared with relatively nontoxic acids. Acid addition salts can be obtained by contacting the neutral form of such compounds with a sufficient amount of the desired acid, either neat or in a suitable inert solvent. Examples of pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts include those derived from inorganic acids like hydrochloric, hydrobromic, nitric, carbonic, monohydrogencarbonic, phosphoric, monohydrogenphosphoric, dihydrogenphosphoric, sulfuric, monohydrogensulfuric, hydriodic, or phosphorous acids and the like, as well as the salts derived from relatively nontoxic organic acids like acetic; propionic; isobutyric; maleic; malonic; benzoic; succinic; suberic; fumaric; mandelic; phthalic; benzenesulfonic; toluenesulfonic, including p-toluenesulfonic, m-toluenesulfonic, and o-toluenesulfonic; citric; tartaric; methanesulfonic; and the like. Also included are salts of amino acids such as arginate and the like, and salts of organic acids like glucuronic or galactunoric acids and the like (see, for example, Berge et al. J. Pharm. Sci. 66:1-19 (1977)).

As used herein, a salt or polymorph that is “pure,” i.e., substantially free of other polymorphs, contains less than about 10% of one or more other polymorphs, preferably less than about 5% of one or more other polymorphs, more preferably less than about 3% of one or more other polymorphs, most preferably less than about 1% of one or more other polymorphs.

The terms, “polymorphs” and “polymorphic forms” and related terms herein refer to crystal forms of a molecule. Different polymorphs may have different physical properties such as, for example, melting temperatures, heats of fusion, solubilities, dissolution rates and/or vibrational spectra as a result of the arrangement or conformation of the molecules in the crystal lattice. The differences in physical properties exhibited by polymorphs affect pharmaceutical parameters such as storage stability, compressibility and density (important in formulation and product manufacturing), and dissolution rates (an important factor in bioavailability). Polymorphs of a molecule can be obtained by a number of methods, as known in the art. Such methods include, but are not limited to, melt recrystallization, melt cooling, solvent recrystallization, desolvation, rapid evaporation, rapid cooling, slow cooling, vapor diffusion and sublimation.

The term “alkyl,” as used herein refers to monovalent saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon groups, particularly, having up to about 11 carbon atoms, more particularly as a lower alkyl, from 1 to 8 carbon atoms and still more particularly, from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The hydrocarbon chain may be either straight-chained or branched. This term is exemplified by groups such as methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, iso-butyl, tent-butyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, tert-octyl and the like. The term “lower alkyl” refers to alkyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms. The term “alkyl” also includes “cycloalkyl” as defined below.

The term “heteroalkyl,” by itself or in combination with another term, means, unless otherwise stated, a stable straight or branched chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, or combinations thereof, consisting of the stated number of carbon atoms and from one to three heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, Si and S, and wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms may optionally be oxidized and the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized. The heteroatom(s) O, N and S may be placed at any interior position of the heteroalkyl group. The heteroatom Si may be placed at any position of the heteroalkyl group, including the position at which the alkyl group is attached to the remainder of the molecule. Examples include —CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—N(CH₃)—CH₃, —CH₂—S—CH₂—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—S(O)—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—S(O)₂—CH₃, —CH═CH—O—CH₃, —Si(CH₃)₃, —CH₂—CH═N—OCH₃, and —CH═CH—N(CH₃)—CH₃. Up to two heteroatoms may be consecutive, such as, for example, —CH₂—NH—OCH₃ and —CH₂—O—Si(CH₃)₃. Also included in the term “heteroalkyl” are those radicals described in more detail below as “heteroalkylene” and “heterocycloalkyl.”

“Aryl” refers to a monovalent aromatic hydrocarbon group derived by the removal of one hydrogen atom from a single carbon atom of a parent aromatic ring system. Typical aryl groups include, but are not limited to, groups derived from aceanthrylene, acenaphthylene, acephenanthrylene, anthracene, azulene, benzene, chrysene, coronene, fluoranthene, fluorene, hexacene, hexaphene, hexylene, as-indacene, s-indacene, indane, indene, naphthalene, octacene, octaphene, octacene, ovalene, penta-2,4-diene, pentacene, pentalene, pentaphene, perylene, phenalene, phenanthrene, picene, pleiadene, pyrene, pyranthrene, rubicene, triphenylene, trinaphthalene and the like. Particularly, an aryl group comprises from 6 to 14 carbon atoms.

The term “subject” is defined herein to include animals such as mammals, including, but not limited to, primates (e.g., humans, monkeys, apes), cows, sheep, goats, horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, rats, mice and the like. In preferred embodiments, the subject is a human.

As used herein, the term “about” or “approximately” means an acceptable error for a particular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art, which depends in part on how the value is measured or determined. In certain embodiments, the term “about” or “approximately” means within 1, 2, 3, or 4 standard deviations. In certain embodiments, the term “about” or “approximately” means within 50%, 20%, 15%, 10%, 9%, 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%, 4%, 3%, 2%, 1%, 0.5%, or 0.05% of a given value or range.

Thus, in one aspect, this invention relates to a method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

-   -   where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and         30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂,         N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl         substituent,

or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COON, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent,

wherein said therapeutically effective amount of said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is sufficient to penetrate into said cancer stem cells and wherein a population of said cancer stem cells is reduced.

The therapeutically effective amount that is sufficient to penetrate into said cancer stem cells is preferably between 0.21-21 mg (equivalent to a 7-700 mCi, total mass dose range) and between 0.03-0.21 mg/kg (equivalent to 1-7 mCi/kg, by weight dose range).

These amounts were calculated using the current drug product (CLR1401) total mass dose value of 0.15 mg/mL and an activity concentration value of 5.0 mCi/mL at injection.

In one embodiment, the invention provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compounds as described in the application formulated for use in the treatment of cancer wherein the radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compounds penetrate cancer stem cells.

In a preferred embodiment, the population of cancer stem cells comprises stem cells of the following cancers: glioma, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

For a therapy in humans, a preferred isotope of iodine is ¹³¹I, although other radioactive isotopes, including ¹²³I, ¹²⁴I, and ¹²⁵I can be used, too. In one embodiment, an ether or alkyl phospholipid compound tagged with “cold” iodine (e.g., ¹²⁷I) can be utilized to treat cancer stem cells.

In the most preferred embodiment, the radiolabeled compound is CLR1404 (18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine) radiolabeled with ¹³¹I.

In addition, ether and alkyl phospholipid compounds having more than one radioactive iodine may be used for the purposes of the present invention. Some representative structures are as follows:

The part of the molecule after the vertical wavy line is the same as in the molecules with one Iodine attached to the phenyl ring.

In another embodiment, the invention also relates to a combination therapy, wherein the reduction of cancer stem cells with radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compounds takes place concurrently, subsequently, or prior to another treatment.

In a preferred embodiment, the other treatment is selected from radiotherapy, chemotherapy, tumor resection, ablative therapies, and local physical treatment on the basis of cold (cryo), heat (thermal), radiofrequency, and microwave.

In some embodiments of the invention, the claimed methods enhance the radiosensitivity of cancer stem cells. This is because PLE compounds, as described in the application, are able to penetrate cancer stem cells through direct uptake. Thus, the invention allows enhancing the overall radiation dose delivered to cancer stem cells by radiotherapy. In one embodiment, the invention allows enhancing the overall radiation dose delivered to cancer stem cells by radiotherapy by about 30%.

In another embodiment, the claimed methods may allow killing (or reducing the population of) cancer stem cells without any external radiation or any other cancer therapy. The killing of cancer stem cells by the described PLE analogs may be due to direct uptake of the PLE analogs into cancer stem cells and/or due to collateral effects from killing neighboring cancer cells.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of imaging a population of cancer stem cells in vivo comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a radiolabeled alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

-   -   where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and         30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂,         N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl         substituent,

or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent,

wherein said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound penetrates said cancer stem cells.

In a preferred embodiment, the population of cancer stem cells comprises stem cells of the following cancers: glioma, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.

For imaging in humans, a preferred isotope of iodine is ¹²⁴I, although other radioactive isotopes, including ¹²³I and ¹³¹I can also be used.

In the most preferred embodiment, the radiolabeled compound is CLR1404 (18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine) radiolabeled with ¹²⁴I.

PLE compounds having more than one iodine atom attached to the phenyl ring, as described above, may also be used in the imaging methods.

In other embodiments of the invention, fluorescent analogs of PLE compounds may be used in the claimed imaging methods. For example, the invention specifically contemplates the use of CLR1501 compound, which has the following structure:

The application specifically incorporates by reference all fluorescent PLE analogs described in the pending patent application Ser. Nos. 12/463,970; 12/463,978; 12/463,983; 12/463,990; and 12/463,998.

The imaging can be performed through a hybrid scanning, utilizing a functional imaging modality, such as single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) in combination with computed tomography (CT) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, and combinations thereof.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a method of ex vivo or in vitro labeling cancer stem cells comprising administering to cells suspected of comprising cancer stem cells an effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent,

or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent,

wherein said cancer stem cells are labeled with said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound.

PLE compounds having more than one iodine atom attached to the phenyl ring, as described above, may also be used in the labeling methods.

In other embodiments of the invention, the above-described fluorescent analogs of PLE compounds may be used in the labeling methods.

In some embodiments, this method allows to detect and/or separate cancer stem cells from other types of cells.

In other embodiments, the described compounds can be used for identifying cancer stem cells in vivo, by administering the compounds to an animal and then identifying and/or quantifying stem cells of any type in any organ or tissue. These methods may be used to facilitate diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases or to study physiological processes in animals.

The compounds may be administered through any suitable method, including injection, ingestion, and topical administration.

The described methods may further comprise a step of separating the cancer stem cells from non-cancer cells.

In addition, these methods may be used to monitor the response to therapies which affect the growth of stem cells in animals, including humans. The therapies may either reduce the growth of stem cells or stimulate the growth of stem cells.

The following prophetic Examples demonstrate some aspects of the invention. The Examples are not meant to limit the invention in any way.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Testing CLR1501 In Vitro to Determine if the Compound Enters Cancer Stem Cells

An objective of this experiment is to determine whether an alkyl phospholipid compound CLR1501 (a fluorescent version of CLR1404) enters cancer stem cells in culture utilizing confocal microscopy.

CLR1501 has the following structure:

We have shown in cell culture studies that CLR1501 is preferentially taken up by a variety of tumor cells relative to their normal host tissue cells. The agent initially associates with outer cell membranes, becomes internalized, and then associates with other subcellular organelles and membranes. It does not appear to enter the nucleus even after 24 hours.

A similar experiment utilizing CLR1501 could be performed to demonstrate that alkyl phospholipid compounds can penetrate cancer stem cells. A comparison in brain tumors, for example, would consist of doing a parallel comparison of CLR1501 uptake in cultured glial cells (normal brain neuronal cells), normally differentiated glioma tumor cells, and enriched glioma cancer (isolated from human gliomas, separated using cancer stem cell markers, and grown in culture) stem cells. Following exposure to CLR1501, cells from each cohort would be removed from their cultured environments and subjected to z-stack confocal microscopy imaging over time and the uptake of the agent quantified to identify differences in total uptake and rates of uptake as well as retention.

A similar experiment can be done with radiolabeled CLR1404 with determination of the amount of compound that is retained in lysates of exposed stem cells.

Example 2 Testing CLR1404 In Vivo to Determine if the Compound Enters Cancer Stem Cells

An objective of this experiment is to determine whether ¹²⁴I-CLR1404 enters cancer stem cells in vivo utilizing microPET/CT/MRI scanning.

Utilizing microPET/CT hybrid scanning of our tumor-bearing mouse models, we can quantitatively monitor tumor uptake and retention three-dimensionally in intact rodent tumor models, including xenografts of human tumors in immune-compromised mice, as well as spontaneous mouse and rat tumor models.

To evaluate the potential uptake of CLR1404 into cancer stem cells, using glioma as an example, we would perform in vivo microPET/CT/MRI hybrid scanning of anesthetized animals bearing orthotopic brain tumors derived from human glioma stem cells. Isolation of these cells would be similar to that described in Example 1, with the exception that the tumor stem cells would be implanted orthotopically into the mouse brain. A comparison would also be done with normal gliomas of non-stem cell derivation. Following in vivo imaging utilizing ¹²⁴I-CLR1404 at several time points from 0-7 days, the tumors would be excised and scanned ex vivo and then the tumor isolated and counted for radioactivity in order to compare tumor to normal brain ratios and also to compare tumor derivations.

Example 3 Testing CLR1404 In Vivo to Determine if the Compound Reduces the Number of Cancer Stem Cells

An objective of this experiment is to determine whether ¹²⁵I- or ¹³¹I-CLR1404 can kill cancer stem cells and compare survival of normally differentiated glioma cells.

The same glioma model as proposed for the experiments in Examples 1 and 2 may be utilized. It would be desirable to compare the therapeutic efficacy of both ¹²⁵I-CLR1404 and ¹³¹I-CLR1404. Accordingly, cohorts of brain tumor bearing mice would consist of sham operated (n=3), normally differentiated glioma (n=3), and stem cell derived glioma (n=6). Tumor would initially be confirmed noninvasively with high field MRI imaging prior to administration of the agent. Animals would receive a mixture of imaging (¹²⁴I) and therapeutic (¹²⁵I or ¹³¹I) agent at T₀ and scanned up to 4 days post injection to determine suitable tumor targeting. After a predetermined period of time, animals will be euthanized, tumors excised, cells digested and subjected to appropriate cell culture conditions. Cell growth of regularly differentiated glioma cells as well as gliomal stem cell derived spheroids will be quantified and compared to determine if there is differential killing effect for either isotope in each cell population. 

1. A method of treating cancer comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent, or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent, wherein said therapeutically effective amount of said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is sufficient to penetrate into said cancer stem cells and wherein a population of said cancer stem cells is reduced.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said population of cancer stem cells comprises stem cells of the following cancers: glioma, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said isotope of iodine is ¹³¹I.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is 18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine and X is ¹³¹I.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein X is two or three isotopes of iodine.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein said method further comprises another cancer therapy selected from the group consisting of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, tumor resection, ablative therapy, and local physical treatment on the basis of cold (cryo), heat (thermal), radiofrequency, and microwave.
 7. A method of imaging a population of cancer stem cells in vivo comprising administering to a patient in need thereof an effective amount of a radiolabeled alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent, Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent, or a fluorescent analog of said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound, wherein said radioactive ether or alkyl phospholipid compound or said fluorescent analog penetrates said cancer stem cells.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said imaging is performed through a hybrid scanning utilizing single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein said isotope of iodine is ¹²⁴I.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is 18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine and X is ¹²⁴I.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein X is two or three isotopes of iodine.
 12. The method of claim 7, wherein said fluorescent analog has the following structure:


13. The method of claim 7, wherein said population of cancer stem cells comprises stem cells of the following cancers: glioma, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
 14. A method of ex vivo or in vitro labeling cancer stem cells comprising administering to cells suspected of comprising cancer stem cells an effective amount of a radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound of Formula I

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; and Y is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent, or Formula II

where X is an isotope of iodine; n is an integer between 12 and 30; Y is selected from the group consisting of H, OH, COOH, COOR and OR, and Z is selected from the group comprising N⁺H₃, HN⁺(R)₂, N⁺H₂R, and N⁺(R)₃, wherein R is an alkyl or arylalkyl substituent, or a fluorescent analog of said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound, wherein said cancer stem cells are labeled with said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound or said fluorescent analog.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said isotope of iodine is ¹²⁴I.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein said radiolabeled ether or alkyl phospholipid compound is 18-(p-iodophenyl)octadecyl phosphocholine and X is ¹²⁴I.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein X is two or three isotopes of iodine.
 18. The method of claim 14, wherein said fluorescent analog has the following structure:


19. The method of claim 14, wherein said cancer stem cells comprise stem cells of one or more of the following cancers: glioma, lung cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, renal cancer, melanoma, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
 20. The method of claim 14, further comprising a step of distinguishing said cancer stem cells from non-cancer cells. 